神的應許
希伯來書六章11至20節
11我們願你們各人都顯出這樣的殷勤，使你們有滿足的指望，一直到底。
12並且不懈怠，總要效法那些憑信心和忍耐承受應許的人。
13當初神應許亞伯拉罕的時候，因為沒有比自己更大可以指著起誓的，就指著自己起誓，說：
14論福，我必賜大福給你；論子孫，我必叫你的子孫多起來。
15這樣，亞伯拉罕既恆久忍耐，就得了所應許的。
16人都是指著比自己大的起誓，並且以起誓為實據，了結各樣的爭論。
17照樣，神願意為那承受應許的人格外顯明他的旨意是不更改的，就起誓為證。
18藉這兩件不更改的事，神決不能說謊，好叫我們這逃往避難所、持定擺在我們前頭指望的人可以大得勉勵。
19我們有這指望，如同靈魂的錨，又堅固又牢靠，且通入幔內。
20作先鋒的耶穌，既照著麥基洗德的等次成了永遠的大祭司，就為我們進入幔內。
信息分享
神在祂每個兒女的身上有甚麼計劃呢？
這幾節經文告訴我們：神希望祂的每個兒女都可以像亞伯拉罕一樣，靠著神的應許來踏上信心之旅。
讓我們回想亞伯拉罕的一生。他等待了漫長的25年，才與撒拉生下他們的兒子。但神接著卻要考驗他的信心，要他把兒子奉獻給祂；儘管神最後為他預備了一隻羊來代替他把兒子獻上。而且，亞伯拉罕在離世之前，還未曾看見神的應許全部成就。
亞伯拉罕深信神的話語，許多時候，他惟一能夠憑藉的就只有神的應許，但他卻已感到心滿意足。神同樣將祂的一切應許賜給我們，我們大可以放心信靠祂。
同時，神的應許也是我們盼望的所在。我們的盼望不在於屬世的事物，而是在於神自己，以及基督已進到神的面前，不斷為我們代求的事實。
聖經所言的「盼望」，不僅限於我們日常含意。當我們說：「我盼望這事成就」，我們實際上是不能肯定事情會不會照我們所想的那樣發生。然而，聖經卻絕對肯定神必成就祂的應許。神定意成就祂的應許，而祂的計劃正一步一步地使祂的應許成就。
「神必成就祂的應許」這個事實，豈不成為我們信仰的重要基石嗎？神的話語是出於神自己，我們當然可以放心信靠祂了。
唱詩：
「耶穌所流出的血和成就的義，正是我們盼望的緣由。」
THE PROMISES OF GOD
Hebrews 6:11-20
11 And we desire that each one of you show the same diligence to the full assurance of hope until the end,
12 that you do not become sluggish, but imitate those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.
13 For when God made a promise to Abraham, because He could swear by no one greater, He swore by Himself,
14 saying, “Surely blessing I will bless you, and multiplying I will multiply you.”
15 And so, after he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise.
16 For men indeed swear by the greater, and an oath for confirmation is for them an end of all dispute.
17 Thus God, determining to show more abundantly to the heirs of promise the immutability of His counsel, confirmed it by an oath,
18 that by two immutable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we might have strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold of the hope set before us.
19 This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which enters the Presence behind the veil,
20 where the forerunner has entered for us, even Jesus, having become High Priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.
Message
What is God's plan for each of his children?
These verses tell us: it is to walk by faith believing God's promises in the same way as those who have gone before, such as Abraham.
Think about Abraham. How long did he have to wait for a son? 25 years. Then God asked for the son to be given back to him. Abraham even died in faith without ever seeing the complete fulfilment of God's promises.
Abraham believed the Word of God. That was all he had but that was enough. In the same way we have all the promises of God and we can trust them.
Here is our great hope. It does not rest on earthly things but on God himself and on the fact that Christ Is already there in God's presence.
The Bible word, 'hope' is far stronger than the meaning we give to it today. We say, 'I hope so' meaning we are not sure if it is going to happen or not. But the Bible word gives the absolute assurance that what God promises is within his power to fulfil. He wants to fulfil his promises and he is planning to do just that.
Isn't this fact a tremendous foundation for our faith? Behind God's Word is God himself and we can always count on him.
Can you sing
'My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus' blood and righteousness'?